Like every other city, officers in Austin, Texas, routinely pull over cars for traffic stops. When asked for their proof of insurance, many drivers are following the rules. But a growing number – close to 950 a month on average – aren’t carrying car insurance required by law. And that’s just the folks getting checked.

Austin Police Department data show more than 8,500 uninsured-driver citations between January and September

That’s far higher than tickets for expired registration or driving without a license, and it raises real concerns. Crashes involving uninsured drivers can turn minor fender benders into expensive disputes, leaving people scrambling to cover repairs or medical bills.

APD’s assistant chief of patrol, Mike Chancellor, presented the numbers to Austin’s Mobility Committee. Most are discovered when officers pull folks over for another violation. Police use the TexasSure database to check insurance. If the system is down or a driver can’t produce proof, a citation is issued, though it can later be dismissed in court.

Many drivers skip insurance for a mix of financial, unintentional, and sometimes willful reasons

Cost is the most obvious factor. Policies can be expensive, and some people gamble that they won’t get into an accident.

Others face temporary coverage gaps after a job loss, a vehicle change, or a lapse in policy payments.

A surprising number simply don’t fully understand that carrying insurance is legally required, or they assume they won’t be caught.

Some drivers avoid coverage because prior at-fault car accidents or tickets have made premiums unaffordable, while others become uninsured due to missed renewals, forgotten payments, or paperwork errors.

Together, these factors help explain why so many drivers are pulled over without insurance, even in cities like Austin, where citations are common.

Chancellor emphasized that Texas law requires insurance to protect drivers. Austin alone had more than 10,000 collisions last year. Insurance is far cheaper than the bills that can follow a crash.

Staffing adds another layer.

APD has roughly 580 patrol officers, with about 300 vacancies

Traffic enforcement often takes a back seat to 911 calls, making year-to-year comparisons tricky. Chancellor noted that stops for uninsured drivers have been common throughout his 21-year career.

Despite the officer shortage, overall citations rose 14% over last year. The department has used grant funding and adjusted staffing to keep patrols active.